Improvement in ordnance



G. WOLTER.

Muzzle-Loading Ordnance.

12,522 Patented Mar. 13, 1855.

".PETERS. PNOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. mc.

- UNiTED STATES ATENT FFICE.

' EMPROVEMENT IN ORDNANCE.

Specification tonning part of Letters Patent No. B22522, dated hlilll'll 13, 1855.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER Women, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cannons and other Guns for Firing Chain and Rope Shot; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fieldpiece and its carriage constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the principal parts of thesame. Fig. i is a side view of a portion of the carriage, showing a part of the mechanism by which the simultaneous discharge of the twobarrels is effected. Fig. 5 is a trans verse sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a top view of a frame for elevating the gun on the carriage.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to the employment of two barrels, which are adjustable at different angles to each other, for the purpose of firing the shot at various distances and always extending the chain or other connection between them without danger of breaking it; and also in certain means of controlling the adjustment of the same, and to certain appliances for insuring the simultaneous discharge of the two barrels.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A A is the carriage, which is of the usual construction, except that it is made of greater width than it would be. for a single gun.

B B are the two barrels, which, insteadof having trunnions, are supported underneath by universal-jointed stands a a, one upon each side or shaft A of the carriage. Attached to the under side of each breech is a piece of metal, I), of the form of an inverted letter, T, the upright part or shank of which works in a slot, 0, in the upper part of one of two heads, C C, of an iron frame, C C D D E, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and also in the detached view, Fig. 6, and the arms of which are furnished with frictionrollers, to work in slots (1 d in the back and front of the said head.

The slots 0 c of the heads C C are in the form of ares, described from the upright pivots of the jointed stands. a a of their respective barrels.

D D D D are sectors, attached two to each head C. These sectors are described from the horizontal pivots of the universal -jointed stands, and work either in slots in the sides of the guncarriage or in other guides c e, attached thereto. They are connected at the bottom by cross-pieces ff. The elevation of they gun is varied by means of a screw, work-' ing in a female screw in a cross-piece, h, which is fitted to turn freely between the guides c e, the lower end of the said screw being connected with a crosspieee, t, which turns freely between the cross-pieces ff. The connection of the breeches with the sectors D D D D by means of the slotted heads C C provides for the change of the angle between the two barrels and enables the elevation or depression of both barrels to be efi'eeted simultaneously, whatever may be the relative positions of the barrels to each other. I

The heads C C are connected permanent-1y together, and midway between them they carry the slide E, which stands longitudinally with. and centrally to the carriage, and in this slide is fitted a slider, F, connecting with two arms, j j, of equal length, which are attached to the two barrels a short distance in front of their stands a a, and which constitute atoggle-joint. By moving the slider F back and forth the barrels may be moved simultaneously and adj usted so that their bores may form any desired angle with each other, and they will always bear the same relation to a central line, along which the sight may be taken. The barrels maybe fixed in any position by a key passing through one of a series of holes, m, in the slider F, and corresponding holesin the slide E.

The barrels are fitted with percussion-locks 76 k, of novel construction; but as these form a distinct invention they need no description here further than is necessary to explain the manner of effecting a simultaneous discharge of both barrels in any relative positions. The hammers (which are not shown) are driven by springs, and are made to strike the cap or other explosive percussion-priming by being drawn back against the force of the spring and then suddenly let go. The triggers or levers, by which the hammers are drawn back, are connected each with one of two similar links, Z Z, which are connected with a small sliding piece, 12, working on a small slide-bar attached below the slide E. From this sliding piece a cord or chain, a, passes over a small pulley, 0, at the end of the slide E, and from thence under a pulley, 1), attached to a cross-piece, q, of the carriage, and connects with a rod, 9", working through one side of the gun-carriage. This rod has a spiral spring, 8, applied to it within a box, it, in the carriage (see section, Figs. 4; and 5) in such a way as to throw it inward, and outside the carriage it connects with a lever, a. The barrels are discharged simultaneously by pulling this lever outward and suddenly letting it go. This is effected by thelever drawing out the rod '1' and drawing'the cord 02, to draw forward the links H, and thus drawing back the hammers against the springs before spoken of as being applied to them to produce percussion. The effect of these springs is assisted by the spring 8, which quickly slackens the cord or chain when the lever u is let go. It is evident that, as the relative positions of the barrels-vary, the effective length of the cord or chain a must also vary, as, in

order to be operative, the cord or chain must be kept tight, or nearly so. In order to vary the-length of the cord or chain, it is not connected fixedly with the rod '1", but merely passes through an eye in its end, and thence to a winch, w, on which it is wound or unwound, as may be required, by means of a handle, x, outside the carriage.

Having'thus fully described my invention,

I will proceed to point out what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Letters. I

1. Though I do not claim of itself the mounting of a gun-barrel or piece of ordnance upon a universal joint or pivot, I claim the connection of two barrels 'or pieces thus mounted in such a manner that they may be adjusted and held at any desirable angle relatively to each other, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

2. The connection of the barrels" by means of the toggle-joints jj, and the central slider, F, working in a suitable slide supported by the carriage, substantially as herein described, for the purpose of adjusting the barrels at the desired angle.

3. Supporting the breeches for the purpose of varying the elevation of the barrels by means of a frame composed of sectorsDD D D.

and slotted heads 0 0, attached thereto, as described, whereby the necessary changes of elevation and of the angle of the two barrels are provided for independently of each other. This I claim irrespective of any mechanical devices that may be employed to raise and lower the frame.

4. The connection of the two hammers or a winch, '10, conveniently situated to keep italways wound up to the proper degree to give it the required length, as herein fully set forth.

CHRISTOPHER NVOLTER. W'itnesses:

STEPHEN HAWLEY, EGBERT MARsH. 

